Biography

In the creator of 'Uncle Tom’s Cabin,' a critic and a biographer both discover a 19th century author to admire.

After her book contract was canceled, Debby Applegate found inspiration in Pulitzer-winning biographies — then took home a prize of her own.

Two daughters of Julia Ward Howe saw their challenge as keeping 'ma’ma' alive. Their reward? A new literary prize.

Megan Marshall's book on the Peabody sisters was a Pulitzer finalist. The next, on Margaret Fuller, won the prize. Now she's working on a biography of Elizabeth Bishop. Does that make Marshall a 'cultural,' 'feminist' or 'literary' biographer? She has her doubts.

Annette Gordon-Reed shares the story of writing her first 'book' — at age 7 — and tells readers how youthful enthusiasm grew into a Pulitzer-winning biography

Year after year, most book juries emerge from many months of heavy reading to give the Pulitzer Prize Board good choices. Take this one, for example.

Excerpts from Pulitzer jury reports, including those on Margaret Fuller: A New American Life and Angela's Ashes, show the fascinating questions that arise in evaluating such work.

From Twain to Frost to Thomas Wolfe, what juries had to say about Pulitzer-winning biographies.